Dick Neal Sr. Explained

Dick Neal Sr.
Full Name:Richard Marshall Neal
Birth Date:14 January 1906
Birth Place:Fencehouses, England
Death Place:Fence, England
Height:5 ft 8 in[1]
Position:Winger
Youthclubs1:Dinnington Main Colliery Welfare
Years1:1925–1931
Clubs1:Blackpool
Caps1:85
Goals1:17
Years2:1931–1932
Clubs2:Derby County
Caps2:10
Goals2:1
Years3:1932–1937
Clubs3:Southampton
Caps3:170
Goals3:17
Years4:1937–1938
Clubs4:Bristol City
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:1938–1939
Clubs5:Accrington Stanley
Caps5:21
Goals5:7
Totalcaps:292
Totalgoals:42

Richard Marshall Neal (14 January 1906 – 26 December 1986) was an English professional footballer who played as a winger. He spent most of his career at Blackpool and Southampton.

Playing career

Neal was born in Fencehouses and started his playing career at Dinnington Main Colliery Welfare, from where, in 1925, he joined Blackpool, then in the Football League Second Division. He made his debut, in the number 7 shirt, on 1 May 1926, at Sheffield Wednesday in the final league game of the season. Over the next five seasons his appearance and goal totals in the league were: 17/3, 24/6, 32/5, 7/2 and 4/1. He helped Blackpool to the title in 1930, their only championship to date.[2]

He spent the first half of the 1931–32 season at Derby County, and in February 1932, the Southampton Supporters' Club put up the funds to secure his transfer to replace Bert Jepson. Over the next few seasons he was rarely out of the side and was a model of consistency despite the team's failure to achieve anything of merit, finishing regularly in mid-table in Division Two.[3]

In 1937, after 177 appearances for Southampton, he moved on to Bristol City before finishing his career at Accrington Stanley.

Personal life

His son Dick Neal Jr. was a professional footballer who played as a half-back for Lincoln City and Birmingham City in the 1950s and 1960s, whilst his brother, Arthur, played briefly for Liverpool and Darlington. His brother-in-law was Freddie Gibson, who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City and Middlesbrough.

Honours

Blackpool

1929–30

Notes and References

  1. News: Southampton. New directors, new enthusiasm . Sunday Dispatch Football Guide . London . 23 August 1936 . vi . Newspapers.com.
  2. Book: Calley, Roy . Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992 . Breedon Books Sport . 1992 . 1-873626-07-X.
  3. Book: Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk . The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing . 1992. 252. 0-9514862-3-3.